PITTSBURG, Kan. - The Lincoln softball team dropped a pair of games to Pittsburg State on the road on Sunday (March 10). The Gorillas, who are ranked No. 16 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II poll, beat the Blue Tigers, 3-0, in the opener and 13-1 in the night cap.

In the first game, Mallorey Rogers surrendered just five hits and struck out two batters during the first five innings of the contest, and Kasey Kilburn pitched one full inning in which she gave up zero hits and runs. The Gorillas did not get on the scoreboard until the bottom of the fourth when PSU plated a pair of runs on an infield single. The Gorillas also added an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, Vanessa Cardenas singled and Leslie Callahan moved her to third on a base hit into right field. Cardenas attempted to steal home to make it a one-run contest, but ended up being caught. Mackenzie Graham also had a base hit for LU in the seventh inning.

Cardenas led LU defensively in the first game with seven putouts while Lindsey Brandt had three and Callahan, Jamilyn Bagby and Gabby Newman each had two. Abbi Conrad tallied four assists and Newman finished with two.

In the second game, Pittsburg State (24-2, 4-0 MIAA) got its offense rolling early, scoring three runs in the first inning, five in the second and four more in the third. Lincoln (7-11, 0-4 MIAA) drove in its run in the top of the fourth as Brandt was issued a walk and later scored on a double by Graham. Newman and Kierra O'Rourke also had hits for the Blue Tigers. Kilburn struck out a PSU batter and Cardenas posted four putouts while Ella Percival finished with three.

Lincoln visits Liberty, Mo. on Tuesday (March 12) to play William Jewell in a 2:00 p.m. CST non-conference double-header.